Epcot in one day?

[MeetingMickeyin2006]

I'm wondering if 1 day is sufficient time to see Epcot at a somewhat leisurely pace? We're thinking about moving our trip to late Dec/early Jan. What do you think?

 

[heavenleigh412]

In my opinion, Epcot is very under rated. There really is a lot to do there!
We spent 2 days and 1 night there this past trip, and I could have spent more time there.
I know many people complain that their children don't like it, but I think they just don't know Epcot well enough to show their kids what it really has to offer.

 

[mill4023]

There is so much to do at Epcot, that no, you can't see everything in 1 day. But depending on what all you want to see, 1 day might be enough for you.

If you go late December, it will be packed. If you go in early January, the crowds should be very low.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I agree.

EPCOT - if you want to see all there is (which is a lot) you will need two full days. Soarin, Test Track, Mission Space, Engery, Land and all the stuff in the Innovations area. The Living Seas offers swimming with Dolphins as well as, the largest ocean life in US.

Then, the countries offer so much culture and entertainment. Also, the food is so good that you will need two days to eat different items. Don't miss Illuminations.............

 

[KAMommy]

You really can't do Epcot in one day - there is just too much. For adults, anyway. My kids can do without Epcot once you get past the rides. What we do is go to other parks in the morning and then hop to Epcot later. The World Showcase is open later than you would think and you can visit in "kid-sized" pieces.

 

[heavenleigh412]

My daughter actually LOVES Epcot... but she has always been an old soul.
She enjoys the countries, and asking questions of the people who work in them.
She can do it for hours! The CM's are VERY friendly and will happily tell you all about their home countries.
Also FW is great for kids, it's a lot of playing but educational for the most part.
The Land and The Living Seas are incredible to view... maybe my daughter is different than most kids!
Make sure you take the kids to see Turtle talk with Crush though!

 

[isyt]

I agree that it is tough to do Epcot in one day. In January it might be possible but maybe not at the leisurely pace your after. My kids love Epcot, they love the countries as well as the rides. We just got back and my 4 yr old was finally big enough for Test Track and he loved it!! His new favorites are TT or Soarin. Great rides. They also love to do the kid cot stops around the countries. These days we do skip most of the movies because we have seen them so many times so the countries do take us less time. I would say at least a day and a half is needed.

 

[Lizzybee]

Due in part to my "absent minded professor" son who is a budding scientist, we spent 4 partial days at Epcot on our 7 day trip over Spring Break. We went there the first afternoon and did the Kidcot around the world thing and watched Illuminations from San Angel Cantina (nice view blah food). Our next day there we did all we wanted to do at MK using early EMH then hopped to Epcot to do the Sea (the Land was closed) and the Innoventions areas. Another time we went to dinner in France at the counter service (my daughter ate at the Electric Umbrella before), then I took my son to the Body exhibit and we watched Illuminations from right next to the boat to Germany (or Norway?) next to the gift shop behind the wheelchair section...another great view. We went back one more time to the body place and to the space pavillion area. All that and we STILL didn't see everything so I'm pretty sure that one day isn't enough to "do it all". The only two rides we rode at Epcot were El Rio del Tiempo in Mexico and the one Figment is in (can't think of the name). I think you could pick either the World Showcase or the other areas of the park and do one or the other in one day possibly.

 

[DISUNC]

I'm wondering if 1 day is sufficient time to see Epcot at a somewhat leisurely pace? We're thinking about moving our trip to late Dec/early Jan. What do you think?

Not really, especially the end of December when the parks are the most crowded! There is ALOT to do and see in Epcot!

 

[lfama]

It depends on what you want to see. On my next trip I am only planning on doing Epcot in about 5 hours. We are eating breakfast at Akershus, so we are going to get there for when FW opens and go on Soarin' and TT, eat, walk around the world showcase, Ellen, and hopefully Turtle Talk (this is the cutest!) It's only 2 of us, and no kids, so this should be relatively easy to do. But what we are seeing is only a very small portion of Epcot, and there is so much more to offer. I have been there many times and I still have not seen everything!

 

[disneydreamer98]

You cannot see Epcot in one day...especially if you want to do it at a leisurely pace. You could spend 2 full days just at the World Showcase! I to agree that Epcot is way under rated! It is amazing just how much thought and preparation the Imagineers put into that place! If your trip does not allow you to spend more than one day then my suggestion would be to focus either on Future World or the World Showcase and save the other for your next trip.

 

[Karel]

Well, I spent 14 hours in Epcot on our honeymoon. This was in July (years and years ago) and with very long park hours.

It would not be at a leisurely pace and you really need a plan about what you would like to see and use fast passes.

Are kids involved? That would make it a lot harder.

 

[MeetingMickeyin2006]

Thanks everyone! Will plan two days for Epcot!

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I'm gonna break from the crowd here.

It all depends on your interest. You can easily bang out Future World - if you get there before opening - by mid-afternoon, and then you just have WS.

IMHO, WS is a really big mall/food court. Very well-themed, unique, and immersive - but it really does function as a glorifed mall/food court. There are two brief rides and a couple of old films, but that's it. Now, don't get me wrong, WS is a nice place and all, but unless you need to visit every single shop you can do it in a few hours.

So, it all depends on what you want - if you just want to ride the rides, see the shows, and aren't a big shopper - yes, you can do it. Other people can spend an entire day browsing in WS - not me, but some people.

N.E.D.

 

[klofan]

My family personally finished it in 1 day.

 

[heavenleigh412]

I don't think you can bang out all of FW by afternoon
There is a lot more to FW than just Innoventions, there is The Land, The Living Seas, The Kodak What If Labs, The Universe of Energy, Mission Space (which I don't ride, but the postcards you can send from there are great for Family and friends) Test Track, Journey into the Imagination,Spaceship Earth and shows. The fountain show itself is incredible (especially if you have never been there)
The countries are not just glorified food courts and shops... many of them are highly educational and offer the opportunity to learn about other cultures.
My daughter learned how to Salsa in the Mexico pavillion, and will never forget the CM's there who took the time to teach her.
Each pavillion also has it's own live shows... China has acrobats who are phenomenal, Japan has an incredible story teller, UK has comedians and a band, US has a band, Mexico had a singer (she did Selena when we were there and was quite good)
Morocco had bellydancers.
The gardens of China and Japan are absolutely breathtaking.
Let's not forget that there are now PLENTY of characters in Epcot!
Can you tell I LOVE Epcot?
I have never been bored there, and my daughter has been going every year and still finds plenty to do there.

 

[mill4023]

My family personally finished it in 1 day.

Depends on your definition of "finished".
Like I said, 1 day might be enough for some people, but you certainly can't see everything in 1 day.

 

[sugermouse]

This is really a personal decision. We have been to all the parks a hundred times and still not seen everything.

 

[samsmom05]

I have the same problem of how much time to schedule for Epcot. Since we have never been before and different personalities of the people going, I am devoting one full day to it. I have also planned two ADR's there and other flex time so we can go if that is what the group decides to do. My only delema will be if we decide to split up. My mom loves to shop and SHE MUST BE WATCHED!!!!! Atitude is not always good and the heat can get to her in a heartbeat. DD will want to do the rides (of course if grandma is buying DD will stick to her like glue.)

 

[JohnNJ]

You may want to try TourGuideMike.com for advice and touring plans of all of the WDW parks. He has a one day plan for those that have limited time. He also has multiple day plans and plans specific to young children, active adults, etc.

You can use discount code HE7KD-8GA when you sign up and get $3 off.